One hundred and twenty-five members of Congress asked Secretary of State John Kerry in a letter Monday to deny visas to diplomats’ spouses if the envoys come from a country that doesn’t recognize same-sex spouses of State Department personnel. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) led the letter, which got one GOP signature — Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), who has a transgender son. The lawmakers argued that countries not granting accreditation to same-sex spouses of American foreign service...

On Sunday morning the American Flag on top of City Hall in Downtown Reno was replaced by the LGBT Flag following a gay pride celebration this weekend. By Sunday evening, the LGBT flag was taken down and now the American Flag is back up. The decision to replace the flag has been controversial. Many locals have expressed concerns over the American flag's removal. Around 9:00 p.m. our Channel 2 News crew was able to confirm the LGBT flag was taken down around 9:00 p.m. Sunday, and the American Flag was put back in its place. The City of Reno released...

The court denounced the country for violating the rights of three same-sex couples after failing to recognize their unions. Italy’s Court of Cassation in February rejected gay marriage, saying that nothing existed within the Italian Constitution which stipulated extending marriage rights to same-sex couples. But the court then said that gay people have the right to a “protective law” which ensures they have the same rights as unmarried Italian couples. Although same-sex marriage and civil unions are illegal in Italy, some cities allow gay couples who wed abroad to be registered. In May, 17 gay, lesbian and heterosexual couples signed...

In an interview with +1, a publication of the International University of Catalonia, Archbishop Georg Gänswein discussed his work for Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict and said that theories about the latter's resignation beyond his brief resignation statement are "altogether devoid of foundation." "The question of truth always remains important and I believe that Francis thinks about it the same way" as his predecessor, said Archbishop Gänswein, who serves as the Pope Emeritus's secretary while remaining Prefect of the Papal Household. "It’s not that he’s not interested in the fight against relativism, but he sees clearly that, in his...

Maybe complete and total inclusivity isn’t as easy as it sounds. The organizers of Free Pride Glasgow in Scotland have hit a snag in their mission to plan a totally inclusive event: Some activists think drag queens are offensive to transgender people, others think banning drag queens is offensive to transgender drag queens, and still others think allowing only transgender drag queens is offensive to cisgender drag queens. Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/421402/drag-queens-banned-scotland-pride

Scott Walker stumbled over his own prior comments Wednesday, saying that when he called on the Boy Scouts to reinstate a ban on gay leaders because it “protected children,” he meant the ban protected them from media scrutiny. “The protection was not a physical protection,” Walker said Wednesday at an event in South Carolina, according to The New York Times. Rather, the Wisconsin governor continued, he was referring to “protecting them from being involved in the very thing you’re talking about right now, the political and media discussion about it, instead of just focusing on what Scouts is about, which...

July 14, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) -- There has been no shortage of anti-Christian rhetoric from various media outlets in the fallout from the Supreme Court decision decreeing homosexual "marriage" across the country. "Too many Christians, not enough lions," a derisive reference capitalizing on the Christians martyred in ancient Rome, was also how one LGBT activist responded to Catholic Vote's (CV) pro-marriage "Not Alone" video, according to CV President Brian Burch. Released the day of the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the CV video logged more than 1.3 million views in the first 10 days. "Seeing the power of our message, LGBT activists...

WASHINGTON — A key leadership panel of the Boy Scouts of America voted unanimously last week to end the ban on gay leaders in scouting, the organization told local leaders on Monday. The move — raised as a necessary step by the organization’s head in May — came from the executive committee of the Boy Scouts on July 10. A vote of the full executive board is scheduled for July 27, at which point the change is immediately effective. The resolution passed by the committee does not require councils or troops to allow out gay leaders, but lifts the prior...

(exurpt)"On Monday, July 6, I declined to marry a non-traditional couple during my duties assignment. The declination was based upon my personal and Christian beliefs established over many years. I apologize to the couple for the delay they experienced and wish them the best. The court has implemented a process whereby same-sex marriages will be accommodated. I will continue to perform traditional marriages during my duties assignment. I am also seeking advisory opinion from the Supreme Court of Ohio at this time as to whether or not I can opt out of the rotation. Upon receipt of the advisory opinion...

snip “I believe Jesus would,” Carter said when asked whether Jesus would approve of gay marriage. “I don’t have any verse in scripture ... I believe that Jesus would approve gay marriage, but that's just my own personal belief. I think Jesus would encourage any love affair if it was honest and sincere and was not damaging to anyone else, and I don't see that gay marriage damages anyone else." Carter, a born-again Christian and Baptist, said he still teaches Sunday school whenever he attends his home church. He. said he has never ran across “any really serious conflicts” between...

It wasnâ€™t like we didnâ€™t see this coming but itâ€™s certainly arriving faster and harder than even some of the more conservative estimates would have predicted. Now that gay marriage (or just any old marriage if you prefer) is a â€śconstitutionally assured rightâ€ť in the United States, Left side proponents are taking their victory laps. But at the same time theyâ€™re going to stick to the established talking points of telling everyone not to worryâ€¦ nothing bad is going to happen to anyone else. Youâ€™re just not adjusted to the New and Improved Post-Homophobic Christianity. (From the Daily Beast) The...

St. Patrick’s Day Parade chairman John Dunleavy has been ousted after 22 years after a decades-long dispute over the inclusion of gay groups at the annual march down Fifth Ave., according to a report. The decision, made Tuesday afternoon after a meeting involving the parade’s board, comes just four days after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage across the United States.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there's not much Congress can do in the wake of the ruling by the Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage. In an interview Tuesday night on Kentucky television station WDRB, McConnell restated that he still holds to the traditional view of marriage. "I’ve always felt that marriage is between one man and one woman and the Supreme Court has held otherwise. That’s the law of the land," the Kentucky Republican said. When he was asked if there is anything Congress can do, he answered: "I don’t think so. I think the courts have pretty well...

You probably thought, as I did, that last week's same sex marriage referendum in Ireland was carried by an overwhelming 62 per cent vote majority in support of changing the constitution. In fact, only 34 per cent of the adult population voted in support of the measure. There are 3.52 million Irish citizens of voting age, and 66 per cent of them did not vote "yes". Two-thirds of the adult population either voted "no", or did not vote, or did not register to vote.

<p>Could Barack Obama's great week mark a turning point in his poll numbers?</p>
<p>After months of stagnant approval ratings, a new CNN/ORC poll finds that for the first time in more than two years, 50% of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling the presidency. And his overall ratings are bolstered by increasingly positive reviews of his treatment of race relations and the economy.</p>

It’s difficult to see how the nationwide legalization of gay marriage could have any kind of significant negative repercussions for anybody who’s not gay. Difficult – but not impossible. Because now that the US government formally recognizes marriage equality as a fundamental right, it really shouldn’t skew the tax code so as to give millions of dollars in tax breaks to groups which remain steadfastly bigoted on the subject. I’m talking, of course, about churches.

White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett was one of the mobilizing forces behind the decision to light up the White House with the colors of the gay pride movement to celebrate the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage. According to the Washington Post, Jarrett worked with gay rights organizations to pay for the display to avoid using taxpayer money. The idea came from one of Jarrett’s aides who was also the LGBT liaison in the White House.

Speaking in the Rose Garden shortly after the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage was announced, Obama stated that the progressives in society needs to ‘help’ those with deeply held religious beliefs overcome their convictions. “Opposition in some cases has been based on sincere and deeply held beliefs,” Obama said. “All of us who welcome today’s news should be mindful of that fact. Recognize different viewpoints. Revere our deep commitment to religious freedom.” “Sometimes there are days like this when that slow and steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt,” Obama said. Although the progress might...

When the Left erupted in outrage over the Supreme Court decision on campaign financing in Citizens United, they didn’t their resistance to the result could be described as “treason.” But that’s not the way they’re playing on the new gay-pleasing decisions. At The Daily Beast, contributor Jay Michaelson asked “Did The Four Dissenting Justices In Gay Marriage Case Just Suggest Treason? The conservative justices’ incendiary dissents in Obergefell are a shocking betrayal of judicial responsibility.” Michaelson -- who announced "I'm queer, I'm Jewish, and I'm proud of it" -- suggested somehow that resistance to a Court decision isn’t democratic, it’s...

Apple has added an LGBT section to its App Store that showcases apps, books, movies, TV shows and podcasts to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots. It's Gay Pride in cities worldwide this month, an event sure to get a big boost of excitement following the US Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide on Friday. And in what some digerati may consider added cause for celebration, Apple has added an LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) section on the App Store that showcases tons of content for the LGBT community. The section, which went live on the App Store...

Ben & Jerry's Celebrates Gay Marriage Vote In Its Own, Unique Way Company renames one of its best-selling ice creams, as Apple boss Tim Cook hails a 'victory for equality, perseverance and love' By Andrew Trotman Ben & Jerry's has renamed one of its best-selling ice creams to mark America's decision to make gay marriage legal. The US dairy giant has changed the name of its iconic Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream to "I Dough, I Dough", and designed a special commemorative tub. It follows the Supreme Court's ruling that gay marriage should be allowed across the entire US,...

On this slender thread does the promise of religious liberty hang. Justice Anthony Kennedy, in his majority opinion in Obergefell that declares same-sex marriage a constitutional right, barely mentions the means by which most Americans conduct their weddings Â— houses of worship. Only on page 27 does Kennedy get around to addressing the connection between church and state, and the assurances in this paragraph are less than compelling, to say the least: Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage...

A lesbian public elementary school teacher divulged during a homosexual activist conference workshop for teachers how she indoctrinates students -- starting at age four -- to support homosexual relationships. Presenting at the event, Ontario public school instructor Pam Strong told those in attendance how she convinces her young Canadian students that same-sex "marriage" and other LGBT lifestyles are acceptable and honorable. "And I started in kindergarten ... what a great place to start," Strong told those in attendance,according to LifeSiteNews.com. "It was where I was teaching. So, I was the most comfortable there." The homosexual activist organization Canadian Centre for...

Caitlyn Jenner may have snagged that Vanity Fair cover, but she’s not the only photogenic trans woman making moves and shaking up the game. Despite the ever-present specter of tokenism, openly transgender models have in the past few years forged an important presence in fashion — on top runways, in glossy editorials and even in high-profile campaigns. There’s still a long way to go, but as a toast to progress and Pride month (celebrated internationally in June), here are five barrier-smashing stunners who represent a good start.

(CNSNews.com) – The Department of Health and Human Services’ most recent guidelines explaining the “preventive services” mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—or Obamacare—says health insurance plans must provide co-pay-free pap smears and mammograms to “transgender men.” As defined by the federal Office of Personnel Management: “a person assigned the female sex at birth but who identifies as male is a transgender man.” The guidelines, written as a FAQ sheet, state: Q5: Can plans or issuers limit sex-specific recommended preventive services based on an individual's sex assigned at birth, gender identity or recorded gender? No. Whether a sex-specific...

Obama's remarks were interrupted by a heckler protesting the detention and deportation of gay, lesbian and transgender immigrants. The president sharply rebuked the protester, saying it was "not respectful" to interrupt someone after being invited to their house.

Gay and lesbian couples are featured prominently in Tylenol's new #HowWeFamily campaign, which aims to change the face of the American family. A same sex prom couple and two gay dads with a baby are among those featured in the campaign's first TV ad. A voiceover declares, "Family isn't defined by who you love, but how." Tylenol is glorifying all modern family types by stating a family is based on love not traditional marriage, and then showing gay couples with their children. One Million Moms believes family is based on love, but this does not justify normalizing sin. 1MM does...

On March 30, a major Harvard-affiliated hospital in Boston, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), expelled a well-respected urologist from its medical staff because he voiced concerns about the unhealthy nature of homosexual behavior and objected to the hospital’s aggressive promotion of “gay pride” activities. Dr. Paul Church has been a urologist on the BIDMC staff in Boston for nearly 30 years. He is a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty. He has done research on diagnosing prostate and bladder cancer, and has been a frequent volunteer for medical mission projects in Mexico and Africa. He has also spoken...

The Oscar winner told People magazine that her son Miles likes to "colors outside the lines" of gender roles. "My son Miles is a musician and a DJ and sometimes when his band performs they all wear dresses, and he has long hair," Sarandon said at TrevorLIVE, an event in support of LGBT youth, on Monday. The 68-year-old actress explained that she intentionally raised her children — daughter Eva Amurri, whose father is Italian director Franco Amurri, and sons Miles and Jack Henry, with ex Tim Robbins — in New York City to expose them to a wide range...

HONOLULU (AP) — A celebration of actor Jim Nabors' 85th birthday and 40th anniversary brought nearly 300 people to his Honolulu lawn. Messages rolled in from across the country for the man who portrayed Gomer Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show," The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported (http://bit.ly/1L61JKd). Friday marked not only his birthday but the start of his 40th year with his now-husband, Stan Cadwallader. Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan Jr., commanding general of the United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, delivered congratulations from President Barack Obama.

Michael Sam's CFL career has hit a snag. The Alouettes released a statement regarding Sam Friday evening: "The Montreal Alouettes organization would like to clarify the situation surrounding international defensive end Michael Sam. Friday morning, Michael asked the team a special permission to leave training camp and return home for personal reasons. "With all due respect for Michael Sam, the nature of this decision will remain confidential. "The Montreal Alouettes fully respect Michael Sam's decision and rally around him to offer him all time and support needed. The team has left the door open and Michael is welcome to come...

The Duggar family sowed the seeds for their own downfall nearly a year ago when they sent out a hate-filled robocall to their entire town, Daily Mail Online can reveal The sequence of events which ended with son Josh being revealed as a child abuser began last August when they sent out the message to all the residents of Tontitown, Arkansas. The call urged them to vote against new laws preventing anti-gay discrimination laws and among those who heard it was Tandra Barnfield, a lesbian whose family know the Duggars. In protest Barnfield posed outside the Duggar home kissing her...

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday the Pentagon has updated its equal opportunity policy to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation, putting it in the same category as discrimination based on race, religion, color, age and sex. The change in policy, announced by Carter at a gay and lesbian pride celebration, gives U.S. military troops a broader range of choices in pursuing complaints if they believe they have been discriminated against based on sexual orientation. The change brought the rules into conformity with the 2011 decision to end the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which allowed gays and...

A married Army general on Tuesday introduced his spouse at a Pentagon event that featured lots of top brass, including Defense Secretary Ashton Carter as the keynote speaker. What made this seemingly routine introduction noteworthy is that Brig. Gen. Randy S. Taylor introduced his husband, Lucas. “My husband Lucas is sitting up front here,” Gen. Taylor said of the man in the same row as Mr. Carter, Army Secretary John McHugh and other senior officials. He said Lucas has subjugated his own career to support the general’s frequent moves over an 18-year relationship.

I am not normal. This, I learned from a news story 35 years ago. The details have faded with the passage of time, but the gist of it remains clear. Some expert had crunched a bunch of numbers in search of the “average” human being, the planetary norm, and found that she was an 8-year-old Japanese girl, living in Tokyo. I don’t fit that profile; I’m willing to bet you don’t, either. So as a matter of statistical fact, I’m not “normal” and neither are you. I went to church with Bruce Jenner. Here's what Caitlyn Jenner taught me about...

In discussing the scandal engulfing former House speaker Dennis Hastert, who is due in court this week, one thing must be made absolutely clear. What he is alleged to have done to young boys has absolutely nothing to do with being gay or gay rights. * Almost immediately after the news broke of Hastert’s indictment, folks looked to Congress for signs of hypocrisy. Former representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who is gay, made an assertion during an appearance on Huffington Post Live last Monday that was flat-out inappropriate. “Dennis Hastert twice as speaker tried to get the house to pass a...

Two separate applications for leave to bring petitions challenging the result of the referendum clearing the way for same-sex marriage here will come before the High Court on Friday. Both matters are due to come before the president of the High Court, Mr. Justice Nicholas Kearns, and both applicants, should they get leave to bring their petitions, are seeking injunctions preventing the issuing of a certificate verifying the referendum result pending the outcome of their proceedings. One challenge has been initiated by Gerry Walshe, an electrician from Lisdeen Road, County Clare; while the second is brought by Maurice J. Lyons,...

UKIP has been banned from taking part in a gay pride parade over what organisers claim are safety fears – even though the party has thousands of LGBT members.Organisers at the event in London said they had to "wrestle with a difficult issue" when deciding whether or not to allow the party to enter the parade. The shock move comes despite Ukip's strong lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members' wing – and the fact that David Coburn, their only Scottish MEP, is homosexual. Parade bosses said the decision was made to reject Ukip's application "in order to protect participants...

Veteran actor and gay rights activist Patrick Stewart has defended a Christian bakery which was found guilty of discrimination for refusing to bake a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan. Last month, a judge ruled that Ashers Baking Company in Northern Ireland had discriminated against a gay customer by refusing to make a cake with the words “support gay marriage”, along with a picture of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. Gareth Lee commissioned the cake for an event to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The bakery initially accepted the order, but called Mr. Lee two days later...

The establishment campaign to promote disease-spreading and culture-corroding perversity has reached the point that Alaska Airlines now implies discounts for homosexuals: "At Alaska, we have been longtime supporters of the LGBT community and remain committed to a more equitable society. … To show our continued support we are encouraging the LGBT community to travel, not only to Seattle, but to Pride events and gay friendly destinations all over the country. With that aim, we have put together this section of our site to highlight destinations that support marriage equality, Pride celebrations, and other things of interest to the LGBT community....

While the overall reaction to Caitlyn Jenner's introduction has been overwhelmingly positive, restoring our faith in the world and making Caitlyn herself feel 'humbled' and extremely happy, there are some who haven't reacted quite so well. In fact, a shocking petition has now been started urging the International Olympic Committee to actually REVOKE her incredible 1976 Olympic gold medal, as they claim she was "in violation of committee rules." Yes, really. The 65-year-old won the medal for the decathlon in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, but now some are suggesting that she should give back the medal. And by some, we...

Writing online, author Elisa Gabbert answered one of her reader's questions about whether he should stop writing because of his "privilege" of being white and male. An anonymous reader asked Gabbert: "I am a white, male poet—a white, male poet who is aware of his privilege and sensitive to inequalities facing women, POC, and LGBTQ individuals in and out of the writing community—but despite this awareness and sensitivity, I am still white and still male. Sometimes I feel like the time to write from my experience has passed, that the need for poems from a white, male perspective just isn’t...

The restaurant, named Tallywackers, hires attractive men and serves comfort food including steaks, pizzas, pasta, and hot dogs. Tallywackers says their restaurant is a “bar, restaurant and entertainment destination for everyone. There is eye-candy — for boys and girls — great food and a really good time.” Just as the “Hooters” name is a play on a euphemism for women’s breasts, “Tallywackers” is a not-so-subtle nod to men’s genitals. Owner Rodney Duke told the hosts of the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show last month that “he has pondered for 10 years why there wasn’t a male equivalent of this type of...

LONGMONT, CO (KDVR/CNN) - Parents of Evan Curry are outraged after their teenage son is outed by his high school principal just before graduation. The parents say their son wasn't only forced out of the closet - he was silenced when he planned to come out to his family and friends during his valedictorian speech. The principal at Twin Peaks Charter School called Alise Curry and Don Young to tell them their son, the valedictorian, would not be allowed to give the speech at graduation. The principal also informed them their Evan was gay. "I think it goes without saying...

There may be evidence that the government agency in charge of enforcing Oregon anti-discrimination laws colluded against Aaron and Melissa Klein, former owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa bakery, with the pro-LGBT group Basic Rights Oregon. The Daily Signal, the news arm of The Heritage Foundation, exposed the communications contact between officials at the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Basic Rights Oregon, obtained through a public records request, in their story titled, "Emails Raise Questions of Bias in Case Against Bakers Who Denied Service for Same-Sex Wedding." The communications between the two groups raises questions of the impartiality...

Can anyone imagine what Mike Wallace (given his politically incorrect tendencies) and CBS News would endure via social media had this special come out today, given how many of what are now deemed stereotypes have come to fruition?

In April, Bruce Jenner spoke about her transition to woman in a television special that drew nearly 17 million viewers. On Monday, that woman revealed her new identity, appearing as Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of Vanity Fair. The photograph of Ms. Jenner in a revealing outfit, shot by Annie Leibovitz and accompanied by the headline “Call Me Caitlyn,” immediately became a sensation on social media when the magazine posted the article online. Ms. Jenner, 65, who won an Olympic gold medal in the decathlon, has had a long public life. As Bruce Jenner, she had been on the cover...

Aspiring actors are being harassed by dodgy casting agents, say Equity Actors' union will draw up audition guidelines to stop probing questions Inappropriate behaviour by movie executives revealed by celebrities Helen Mirren said she felt 'like a piece of meat' after one casting call Actors are being increasingly pressured into having sex with sleazy casting agents to get sought-after parts, a union has warned. The president of Equity, which represents British performers, said the problem of the 'casting couuch' where actors are pressured into giving sexual favours in return for roles is getting worse and is 'completely out of order'....

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is spending nearly $2 million to see if courts run by teenagers can be a viable tool to fight school bullying. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) tasked WestEd, a San Francisco-based education research group, late last year to study the effectiveness of “youth courts,” where the roles of judge, jury, defense, and prosecution are filled by students, who can then administer punishment in middle and high schools. “Reports of violence, bullying, and other offenses have resulted in concerns about school safety,” according to the NIJ grant. “Administrators, anxious to restore order, have adopted policies...